QR-bill: what a Swiss SME needs to know in 2026
In short: the payment part with a QR code replaced the orange and red payment slips on 1 October 2022. Since 22 November 2025, only the structured address is accepted. A new version of the rules takes effect in mid-November 2026: check that your invoicing tool keeps up.
Key dates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| June 2020 | QR-bill launched in Switzerland | SIX |
| 1 October 2022 | The QR-bill definitively replaces the orange (ISR) and red (IS) payment slips | SIX |
| 22 November 2025 | Version 2.3 of the guidelines: only the structured address is accepted; new accented and special characters | SIX |
| Mid-November 2026 (14 November according to SIX) | Version 2.4 of the guidelines; for invoices in euros, only IBAN with SCOR reference or IBAN with free message remain allowed | SIX |
Is it mandatory?
The payment part itself is not mandatory: an invoice showing the IBAN, name and amount remains valid. But if you attach a payment part, it must be the QR-bill. Your clients, for their part, have had to be able to pay a QR-bill since June 2020.
IBAN or QR-IBAN: three variants
| Variant | Account | Reference | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reference | Regular IBAN | Invoice number in the message | Freelancers, low volumes |
| Creditor Reference (SCOR) | Regular IBAN | International reference starting with RF | Automatic matching without a QR-IBAN |
| QR reference | QR-IBAN, requested from your bank | 27 digits | High volumes, automatic matching |
The QR reference is only allowed with a QR-IBAN. For most small businesses, a regular IBAN is enough.
The structured address
Street, number, postcode, town and country must sit in separate fields, for you as for your clients. An old Word template with a free-text address can produce a non-compliant payment part. Now is a good time to clean up your client list.
What to check in your tool
- It produces the current version of the guidelines (2.3, then 2.4 from mid-November 2026).
- Addresses are entered in separate fields: street, number, postcode, town, country.
- The reference type matches your account: IBAN or QR-IBAN.
- The QR code measures 46 × 46 mm and carries the Swiss cross.
- A test invoice has been paid through your bank before a bulk send.
Issuing QR-bills: your options
- Off-the-shelf invoicing software: bexio, for example, costs CHF 35 to 129 a month excluding VAT, with invoicing and accounting.
- A generator built into a custom tool: your quotes become QR-bills without re-entry, in the tool you already use for your trade.
- Later, eBill: SIX designed the QR-bill and eBill to work together, so you can move to it afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QR-bill mandatory in Switzerland?
Attaching a payment part is not mandatory, but if you attach one, it must be the QR-bill. The old orange and red slips can no longer be used since 1 October 2022.
Do I need a QR-IBAN?
No, unless you want the 27-digit QR reference for automatic matching of high volumes. A regular IBAN is enough with no reference or with a Creditor Reference (SCOR).
What changes in November 2026?
Version 2.4 of the SIX guidelines takes effect in mid-November 2026. For invoices in euros, only IBAN with SCOR reference or IBAN with free message remain allowed. Check with your software vendor that your tool is up to date.
Can I still use my Word templates?
Only if the address is structured, in separate fields, and the QR code is compliant. Since 22 November 2025, a free-text address is no longer accepted.
Sources
Facts collected on 3 November 2026 from SIX, which publishes the standard, and from two Swiss software vendors and agencies. This guide is not legal or tax advice.
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